Partitons used to honour pledge to end mixed wards

Frustration: Andrew Lansley said the practice of mixed sex wards had to end

A pledge to scrap mixed-sex accommodation in hospitals came under fire today when it emerged that it will mean partitions being erected in existing wards.

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley will tomorrow announce guidelines to force hospital trusts to ensure men and women are not lumped together when admitted for surgery. But health department sources said patients may only be separated by moveable partitions.

Mr Lansley will say that the barriers must be opaque and suitable to "maintain dignity".

Male and female patients will have access to separate bathrooms and lavatories. Hospitals that fail to comply by the end of the year will be "fined" with a loss of grants.